InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I love humans."

Adam Milligan (notdewyeyed) wrote in colligo_threads,
@ 2010-08-28 00:24:00

Entry tags:

!@event, adam milligan, dean bendis

WHO: Adam Milligan and Dean Bendis
WHAT: Dawn's pregnant. Her big brother wants to have a little chat with the baby's father.
WHEN: After this.
WHERE: A diner not too far from the clinic.
RATING: TBD
STATUS: In Progress

In the course of his relatively short life thus far, Adam had been killed by a ghoul, tortured by an angel, a hostage in his own body, and literally fallen into Hell. Yet even with all of that under his belt and haunting nearly every moment of his life, he didn't think he'd ever been as freaked out as he was this very instant. The thought of having to meet with Dawn's older brother, who was also a cop, to discuss the fact that Dawn was pregnant, was not something he wanted to do. Yes, he knew that the guy had apparently promised Dawn that he wouldn't hurt him. And he also knew that the guy probably wouldn't if only to avoid Dawn's wrath. However that didn't mean it was going to be a fun, pleasant conversation by any stretch of the imagination.

Still, there wasn't any getting around it. Not meeting with Dean was a certain recipe for disaster and, well, Adam really didn't like the thought of running scared either. He was an adult, he was trying to handle this whole situation as an adult, and that included owning up to what he'd done.

So as soon as his shift ended, he changed into his regular clothing and made his way to the diner they'd agreed to meet at. Dean's last text of 'don't keep me waiting' weighed heavily on his mind as he navigated the streets. Glancing at his watch just as he reached the door to the diner, he had to admit he'd made pretty decent time. Granted, for all he knew Dean was expecting him to leave the clinic early and therefore had showed up right after sending that last text, but Adam hoped that wasn't the case. Deciding there was only one way to find out, as well as get rid of the sense of foreboding weighing on him at the moment, he pulled open the door and stepped inside.

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workingmanblues
2010-08-28 05:01 am UTC (link)

Dean was already there, seated at a booth with his back to the wall, so that he had a sight line on most of the diner. He looked up when the door opened, he had his PDA in hand. He set it aside and stood as Adam came in.

He knew the young man coming through the door was Adam. He seemed nervous, but trying to deny it. Dean almost found that endearing. He hoped the kid was nervous. He had to know Dean could ruin his life, without much effort if he wanted to.

Dean raised his chin as he caught Adam's eye. Dean's height made him tower over most people, but the fact he was so thin made him far less imposing than he might have been. "You must be Adam," he thrust out his hand in something of a friendly gesture.

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notdewyeyed
2010-08-28 05:48 am UTC (link)

Dean really didn't have to try all that hard just to look imposing to Adam. He had a badge, a gun, and a pretty justified reason to shoot the guy who had knocked up his kid sister. In fact, Adam wasn't entirely positive that there was a jury on this planet or any other that would convict him for it. Hell, he'd be hard-pressed to be all that pissed off about it himself, really. Not that he wanted to be shot. He rather liked not having bullet holes in him, but it would be warranted if looked at from Dean's point of view.

Shaking the man's hand, Adam swallowed before replying, "That'd be me. It's, uh, nice to meet you." Not really, not even in the slightest, but it was the polite thing to say. And if nothing else, his mother had raised him with manners.

As he released Dean's hand, he took his seat before glancing idly around. There were a few patrons present, which was good. The more witnesses, the better odds Dean would keep his word to Dawn not to hurt him. At least he hoped so. Shifting a bit in his seat to get comfortable, he met the other man's gaze finally and admitted, "I'm... really not sure what you expect me to say or do, here."

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workingmanblues
2010-08-28 04:05 pm UTC (link)

Dean knew Adam had to be terrified. He hadn't been sure, before meeting him, though Dawn's insistence that Dean not hurt the kid was a good indicator. Sitting across from him now, Dean could see the fear in his eyes, in his posture. it was almost cute, and just a little bit Satisfying. If the kid was this scared meeting Dean, maybe he had a lick of sense in him.

"As I'm sure you know, Dawn's father isn't here. But I am. And I kind of feel like it's my job to look out for her. You have any siblings?" Dean arched a brow, looking at Adam. His initial read on the kid seemed pretty thorough, but Dean worked in civil service. He saw hundreds of people day after day. He considered himself a decent judge of character, but he'd been around enough to know people could sometimes surprise you, too.

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notdewyeyed
2010-08-29 01:37 am UTC (link)

Adam wanted to point out that Dawn was more than capable of taking care of herself. He wanted to add that he loved her, and she loved him, and they were going to get through this together. He wanted to explain that he hadn't had a father for most of his life and would be damned if he put his own child through the same. Or made Dawn raise a child alone as his mother had been forced to do, for that matter. He wanted to say a lot of things, really, but when he opened his mouth he found that the words simply wouldn't come. Shifting a little, clearing his throat, he gave a nod of his head.

"Yeah," he added, deciding to just stick to answering the questions that he was asked until, and really if, he was capable of saying more. "I have two older brothers, on my dad's side." He didn't elaborate. Personally, he didn't feel the sordid, convoluted details of his family was any of Dean's business. Dawn was aware of the situation. That was what mattered.

Still, Adam made a point to continue to meet Dean's gaze and did at least a halfway okay job at keeping his expression fairly impassive. He was still nervous, still wary, but it was easier to use his 'poker face', as it were, now that he'd been here all of a minute or so and the guy had yet to pull a gun on him. Or even really get too threatening. Maybe, Adam thought, just maybe Dawn was right and he'd get through this. And maybe, he decided, he should at least try to take a more active part in this conversation if he wanted to see that happen.

"Look," he said with a soft sigh, "I'm not going to sit here and pretend that everything is fine. We both know it isn't. I fucked up. I know I fucked up." His eyebrows knit together in a small frown at the thought, but shrugged it off and continued speaking.

"The fact is though, I love Dawn. I know I'm young but I've been through enough to know what love is, and this is it. And she says she loves me. We're going to do this, together, and there's nothing that's going to change my mind on that unless she changes hers." Adam swallowed, hard, but made sure to hold Dean's gaze as he spoke. His voice was carefully neutral. He didn't want to come across as rude or tough or even all that disrespectful. But he also wasn't going to cower in the corner, either. And if Dean's plan was to scare him off, it wasn't going to happen. Plain and simple.

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workingmanblues
2010-08-29 04:39 pm UTC (link)

Dean appreciated how the kid held his gaze. He was scared, his body language left no doubt. Maybe not scared, but definitely nervous. He should be nervous, Dean thought. He was a still just a kid, he'd knocked up his girlfriend, and his while life was about to change.

Dean had no intention of trying to scare Adam off. He anted to feel Adam out, find out if Adam was planning to step up or slither out. The fact he'd showed up to meet with Dean told Dean he was probably looking at trying to stick it out. Dean had to give him props for that. A lot of guys his age would run away, leave the girl to deal with the ordeal on her own.

"Do you have any idea how much your life is going to change? It's going to change a lot. A baby is huge, Adam. I'm not going to lie, I'm not going to sugar coat it. Babies are a lot of work. Hard work. And this particular baby happens to be my niece or nephew. You commit to it now, there is no changing your mind later."

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notdewyeyed
2010-09-03 02:15 am UTC (link)

Adam wasn't so proud to think that he knew everything. Hell, he wasn't even proud enough to think that he knew a lot. But if there was one thing he could say with absolute certainty, without a shadow of a doubt in his mind, it was that he knew just how much it sucked to grow up without a father. Which is why he had no problem meeting, and holding, Dean's gaze and responding to the one thing that the man had said that Adam knew he could comment on without any hesitation or stumbling over his words whatsoever.

"I'm not going to change my mind."

The words were flat and determined. He wasn't going to walk away from his child. From Dawn. He wasn't going to make her have to raise their baby alone, as his mom had been forced to do. There mere thought of it was enough to make him feel a little sick to his stomach, in fact. Sucking in a deep breath through his nose, Adam exhaled it slowly.

"I know a baby is hard work. I know it's going to change my life forever. I get it and... it doesn't matter. I'm not leaving. I'm not going to run away from this. It's not going to happen." He meant every word he'd spoken and, while he hoped Dean believed him, frankly wasn't worried about it either way all that much. Time would prove he was telling the truth.

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